watchOS 11 is now available to Apple Watch users. While this update isn’t as big as the past watchOS 10 version, it brings important changes that revamped my Apple watch experience.
For example, Apple finally lets users customize their Activity Rings, which is one of my favorite watchOS 11 features. Thanks to this change, the Activity Rings will understand planned rest days, injuries, or days off without affecting the award streak.
It’s also possible to customize Activity Ring goals by the day of the week, so your leg workout might differ from the one you go for an outdoor run. Additionally, the Fitness app allows users to customize the Summary tab to show exactly the metrics they want to see, including their friends’.
Apple’s watchOS 11 also introduced a new Vitals app, which focuses on health and well-being features. This app allows users to quickly view key health metrics and gain better context about their health.
This Apple Watch app (alongside insights from the Fitness app for iPhone users) helps you understand if you’re on a typical range or if you’re overreaching or missing too many workouts. When two or more metrics are out of their typical range, users can receive a notification and a message detailing how changes in these specific metrics may be linked to other aspects of their lives, such as elevation changes, alcohol consumption, or even illness.
With Training Load, it measures how the intensity and duration of workouts impact a user’s body over time. Training load helps users understand the strain on their body from workouts over the last seven days compared to the last 28 days. Apple says these insights can help you prepare for an event, such as a marathon, bike race, or your first 5K, or just make informed decisions about your training each day.
In addition, Smart Stack adds new widgets, including Shazam, Photos, Distance, and more. It can also suggest widgets based on time, date, location, daily routines, and more.
Compatible Apple Watch models
Apple removed support for three Apple Watch models. That said, these are the wearables that can run watchOS 11:
- Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
- Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
- Apple Watch SE (2022)
- Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
- Apple Watch Ultra (2022)
- Apple Watch Series 9 (2023)
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023)
- Apple Watch Series 10 (2024)
